.png)
Quick Links
Take a tour of Ventura County Fish'n with Google Earth |
|
| Ventura County Fish'N |  |
 |
| Ventura County |
| Lake Casitas |
| Lockwood Valley Wilderness Area |
| Sespe Creek |
| Lake Piru |
| Reyes Creek |
| Pyramid Lake |
| Ventura River |
| Matilija Creek |
| Piru Creek |
| Rose Valley Wilderness |
| Santa Paula Creek |
Since the fires that have raged within the Los Padres National Forest this past year of 2007, a lot of the following information needs to be updated. The fires burned over 250,000 acres and have caused wide spread damage to the rivers, streams and some lakes in that area.
Lake Casitas Set at a low elevation of just 290 feet, this large lake gives its large Bass a lot of growing time. Complemented with stocks of Rainbow Trout, tons of Shad and a large crayfish population, the Bass get big. However it takes something over 10 pounds for most regulars to even give you a nod of approval. With the water being extremely clear with lots of points, coves and submerged structure. It takes a light line and a lot of know how to fish this lake. Most people use six pound monofilament, but a few pros out there use the good 10 or 15 pound lines. The copolymer type lines hide the best. Stocked with Trout during the cooler months, you can always target these fish by trolling deep. With the deepest part of the lake at over 220 feet deep, a lot of the Trout go deep as well. Yes, there is a good portion of hold over Trout that survive for a few years, this along with all the fresh stocks make up to some good catch rates. Pan Fish are all over the lake with the north shore targeted a lot. Your best bet is to use live bait; live Shad or crayfish work really well. Don’t be afraid to tie on something big either, a big fish will take it. With large monster Bass in the upper teens, Catfish over 40 pounds, 4 or 5 pound Trout, 3 pound Crappie, 3 pound Red Ear Sunfish, and lots of big Bluegill. You should always manage a good day of fishing. Located in a hilly canyon you get your fair share of the wind. So finding a nice cove hidden from the wind should bring you some results. No boats under 11 feet and no boats over 25 feet are allowed. However canoes, kayaks, float tubes is allowed. Float tubes must meet standard safety regulations of at least 120 inches of bright orange, personal floatation device or life jacket, whistle or horn and full chest waders. All float tubes must remain within 150 feet of the shore line. Boat rentals are $80.00 for a full day or $25.00 per hour. Boat launch is $10.00, $5.00 entrance fee. State fishing license required and all state limits enforced. Always call ahead to find out what might be going on. A very popular lake all year long with lots of fishing tournaments going on, camping is available and with camping you can shore fish all night long. Trailers are for rent as well, call or log onto the web site to find out more details. Prices have changed since I was last there, but not by much. Lockwood Valley Wilderness Area Found near Quail Lake and Castaic Lake off of Highway 5 North, you will see and pass many tempting areas along the way. However hiking the Lockwood Valley Wilderness is much more rewarding. The following campgrounds are located within the Lockwood Valley Wilderness: Chuchupate, Lockwood Creek, Cottonwood, Sunset, Dutchman, Twin Pines, Halfmoon, Thorn Meadows. The following streams and creeks are also located within this wilderness area: Middle and North Branches of Lockwood Creek, Lockwood Creek, Seymour Creek, Sheep Creek, Piru creek, Guillermo Creek, Rock Creek, Mutau Creek and Dry Creek. I am sure that there are many others that are not listed; however I am leaving that up to you to discover. It is hard to find good information about this area. However there are hiking and fishing clubs that will help you find some information. Some fish stocks have taken place over the years; however what you will come in contact with is wild Trout. Reyes Creek offers something different. A possible hybrid between a Rainbow Trout and a Golden Trout. A long time ago the DFG stocked a strain of Golden Trout in this area. Surrounded by solitude and scenic beauty, the Lockwood Valley Wilderness is full of wild life. Always plan ahead take precautions, the weather here changes very fast. A wilderness permit is required along with a no burn permit. Always call and plan ahead for this area. Bear proof canisters are a must, and always remember you are in their wilderness.
Sespe Creek
Some say river, some say creek. To the ones who fish it, they call it “The Sespe”. For years this water shed was home for countless anglers and outdoor enthusiast. Back in 1998 most of the vehicle access was cut off because of certain endangered species that are found in the water shed. One of the most surprising items discovered was Steelhead Trout. It really is amazing how far these fish go. This caused the DFG to halt all stocking of Rainbow Trout. Most of this area is accessible by foot only, some areas allow horseback. There is a well used trail called “The Sespe Creek Trail” that follows the waterway all the way to the Sespe Condor Range. This sanctuary allows no public access and is clearly posted, so stay out. The trail starts at Beaver Campground off of Highway 33. The best areas to go are east of Lion Campground, just follow the trail. Here you will run into some serious outdoor activities. Rock climbing, hiking, swimming, fishing and even cliff jumping into some of the deeper pools. Most of the best fishing is in this area as well. The farther you go, the better it gets. You will need an adventure pass to park, a wilderness permit and a no burn permit. You will need the burn permit for your camp stoves. Hiking the Sespe is a lot of fun, there can be big fish days and little fish days. Most of the wild Trout in this area are small, average is 9” or so. A 12” Trout is a nice size fish, anything bigger is a trophy. State limits apply with exception of certain areas which are above Alder Creek. Most of the 50 mile long stream has Trout, with a lot of the smaller feeder streams holding Trout as well. The area near Rose Valley is a very good area for larger Rainbows. Deeper, longer pools concentrate a lot of the fish and offer some outstanding fishing. This water shed is one of the last free flowing Trout streams in So Cal. Free flowing meaning no dams. There are a handful of free flowing streams located in the San Bernardino Mountains. However very little compares to the Sespe in terms of what it offers and how diverse it is. The Sespe offers scenic water ways and solitude along with some good fishing.
Lake Piru
A modest size reservoir of around 1200 acres when full, this lake offers good year round fishing. This is one of the few lakes in So Cal that is not part of any aqueduct system. Nor does it have any Florida Strain Largemouth Bass, Florida Strain Bluegill or Florida Strain Red Ear Sunfish. The Northern Strain Largemouth Bass is at home in this lake. At a modest elevation of just 1100 feet, this lake is fed by some really cold water making these bass flourish. With stocked Trout in the winter and a great holdover population this lake kicks out some nice fish. As with all lakes in So Cal you will have your draw downs in the fall and winter. This lake is fed mainly by the Piru Creek, another fine fishery for Trout of all types. Some of the best fishing is going to be in the many coves and creek inlets, with my favorite being Reasoner Cove and the launch ramps. During the winter the Trout fishing is good in these areas, tossing a fly or night crawler from a float tube. Boat rentals are available for $60.00 for a full day. There are over 100 campsites available most with electrical and sewer hook ups. Free showers, drinking fountains and a swim beach all make this lake a place for the family. The swim beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Around 11:00 am the wind starts to pick up, so you don’t have to worry about any flies or biting insects during the day. However insect repellant is a must if out after dark or spending the night. Water skiers run the main channel in the summer, however during the winter there are still a lot of boats on the water, most trolling deep for those holdover Trout. When full the lake is around 300 feet deep. Even when the water is down it is still deep, and that is where the Trout are. At four miles long and up to one mile wide at the widest part, there is enough water to cover a lot of shoreline. With plenty of coves, rock piles and brush filled areas; it will take many fishing trips to figure it all out.
Reyes Creek
No vehicle access allowed, foot and equestrian traffic only. There are multiple campgrounds along the Marshall Pedra Scenic Trail. Upper Reyes Campground will lead you to Reyes Creek. Not only is the Reyes Creek in this area, there are multiple streams and creeks. Not a lot of water flows in Reyes Creek. However during the spring and early summer the DFG stocks Trout near Reyes Campground. A fairly wide open stream that most people would consider a free stone style. It offers some deep pools, smaller plunges and lots of boulder lies for the fish to hide. A lot of people use Power Bait for the stockers, but fly fishers have their day here as well. Not known for large fish, but there is your share of wild Trout or trout that have gone wild. These fish are hard to sneak up on and offer quite a challenge for most anglers. Brush covered in spots, but mostly open this is a great little stream for dry flies. Since the stream is open in a lot of areas, the wind can pick up a little bit here and there. Out in the Lockwood Valley Wilderness you will run into a lot of wildlife. Rattlesnakes are very common as well as Bobcat, Deer, and Mountain Lions. A wilderness permit is required for over night stays, strictly a no burn area. The weather can change rapidly in this area so be prepared. Call ahead to the Ozena Ranger Station to find out about any new closures in the area. This area has suffered fire damage from the fires this past summer of 2007. Pyramid Lake
Set an elevation of 2600 feet, this reservoir was built in 1973 by the Department of Water Resources to furnish water to L.A. and Ventura Counties. Named after a big pyramid shaped rock, that engineers left there when they constructed the old Highway 99. It is still there today, the reservoir also acts as a spillway to generate electricity. There are two launch areas, one at vaquero and at Emigrant Landing. There are multiple picnic sites all around the lake and some can only be reached by boat. With over 20 miles of shoreline, there is a lot of area to cover. Camping is available near the lake at Los Alamos Campground. There is a small bait and tackle shop along with boat rentals with or without a motor, full day or half day. Call ahead to find out the rates, some changes were taking place that may have offset the old prices. At this elevation, the surrounding area stays cool in the winter that is when a lot of the Trout stocks go in. With the lake at over 275 deep when full, the Trout go deep as well. However you can still reach them by using downriggers or lead core line. Stripers are abundant through out the entire lake, chasing the huge balls of Shad that roam the open areas. The Trout and Largemouth Bass also chase Shad on the open water, with Stripers and Largemouth chasing the Trout as well. Even with all the fishing pressure the lake receives, it still produces good size Stripers and Largemouth bass. The Largemouth Bass hang closer to shore and structure while the Stripers mainly chase out on the open water. With a good population of holdover Trout, you can target your species. The Crappie is always a good bet here because of all the brush and rock piles. The catfish will out smart a lot with being found through out the entire lake. They tend to move around a lot and will be in different spots all the time. No matter where you are at, you should find some Catfish and them gets huge in this lake. Float tubing for those large Bluegills and Red ear Sunfish is a blast here. Most Bluegills are over a pound with the Red Ears slightly larger, I consider this a must fish lake that is not too far from the L.A. area. Ventura River
The Ventura River at the upper reaches is also called the North Fork of Matilija Creek. At one time prior to 1998 the DFG was stocking this area with 7,000 or so Rainbow Trout a year. However in late 1998 the stocking program was stopped to help protect the endangered Steelhead Trout. Since that time the water flows have suffered as well leaving only pools were wild Trout still live. Although the Trout are here, they are very small. I don’t remember seeing very many over 12 inches in length. Finding some cut banks or boulder lies is your best bet. Now these fish are wild and spook very easy. The best spots are going to be all along Highway 33 which runs along the stream bed up past Wheeler Gorge towards Beaver Campground. Access is fair to good with parking along side the road. You will need an Adventure Pass to park in the National Forest. You can also find other access routes into the Matilija Creek area. There are multiple creeks, streams that feed into this area. Also nearby are the following campgrounds: Valley View, Gridley, Wheeler Gorge, Holiday, and Beaver Campground. A lot of trails and areas to hike, this area does get warm in the summer and cold in the winter. This water shed has suffered from drought and no longer offers a very viable fishery at the lower elevations. Yes the Trout are there, but depending on water flow, the fish may be hard to find. A lot of are in or near the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County has been damaged by fire this year 2007. Please call ahead to find out what areas might be closed. Because of the fires, a lot of the top predators have been forced to move away from their home range, so please be careful. Matilija Creek Species: Rainbow Trout Matilija Creek is one of only a few streams that were stocked with Rainbow Trout, until a few years ago. The stocks were halted for various reasons; one reason was constant low water levels. Most of the creek is located within the Matilija Wilderness. The north fork of Matilija Creek has a few campsites along its short stretch of water going north. There is a small area that is private and another area that is protected species habitat. There are some signs that mark mall of this. There is no vehicle access; all is on trials like the Bald Hills Trail. Hot in the summer, cold in the winter with enough elevation for thunder storms. Always plan ahead before hiking in this region, the ranger station in Ojai has more information. The hike is worth it if you are looking for wild Trout. Small fish mostly under 12” with vibrant colors and big hungry mouths. Like most streams it is hard to navigate and full of thick brush in most areas. Fly fishing is you best bet here, it seemed like any nymph pattern would work. No casting involved, just peel out a little bit of line and use a long leader, very strong and hungry fighters. The main dangers are bears, cougars, rattlesnakes and of course the severe weather changes. A lot of areas within the Los Padres national Forest in Ventura County have been damaged by fire. So please call ahead to find the areas that are closed. Also because of the fires, a lot of the top predators have moved around more than normal, so please be careful. Piru Creek
Mostly flowing out of the dam at Pyramid Lake and flowing all the way to Piru Lake where the stream is was again dammed up. Access is various and offers some challenges. There are multiple campgrounds to include: Blue Point, Log Cabin, Ellis Apiary and Oak Flat. Covering both the Sespe Wilderness and parts of the Angeles National Forest, there are over 15 miles of hiking and camping trails. A very popular stream, both for spin reel anglers and fly fisherman alike. The terrain can get rough on this brush choked stream, a lot of trails are overgrown and require an effort to get through. Templin Highway off of the 5 Freeway will bring you to a locked gate and a parking lot area. Even though the gate is locked, the paved road continues past the gate and offers easy access to the stream. This section is stocked by the DFG and gets fished out pretty quickly. Just above Frenchman Flats is considered a Wild Trout Stream. There are some man made structures that prohibit the stocked fish from going upstream. Special regulations apply in this section, barb less hooks and artificial lures only. Above Pyramid Lake is open for fishing as well, state regulations apply. There is a lot of area to cover here. The best bet is to start in the area where the Trout are stocked and work your way upstream. Waders and wading boots are a must, with the water being cold and strong due to the release of water from the Pyramid Dam. Not too much casting room because of the brush covered sides, so wading this stream is your best bet. As with most areas in So Cal, Rattlesnakes are very plentiful in this area. Above Pyramid Lake make you way towards Los Alamos and Hardluck Campgrounds to gain access to the upper reaches of Piru Creek. Rose Valley Wilderness Nearby is Lake Casitas and Matilija Lake which is fed by Matilija Creek. Matilija Lake is owned and managed by the Casitas Water Co.; it is closed to public access. The Ventura River also flows up along Highway 33 on the way to Rose Valley. So there are more than a few places to stop and fish. Rose Valley Lakes are stocked so there is always fish to be had. There are three small lakes or ponds located here and fairly close to each other. Parking is available near the lakes and you can basically walk from lake to lake. Rose Valley Falls feeds one of the three lakes and falls 300 feet to the bottom. This is a very scenic place to fish and float tube the lakes. Float tubing is the most effective way to fish these lakes. What got me was a lot of the shallow areas that are choked full of weeds which can make it difficult to launch a float tube. One awesome part about these lakes is that the DFG puts in a lot of fish, over 20,000 stocker Trout with average around 10” with some over 14” to help boost the already stable population. The DFG adds somewhere around 50,000 sub catch able Trout, a very small put and grow project that really works. These ponds remind me of a small 8 acre lake in the San Bernardino Mountains called Jenks Lake. Both places are great for float tubes and fly rods. With the water temp maintaining a cooler environment, it takes a little bit longer for the water to warm up. The weeds really fill in all around these three lakes, so try and find a clear spot. The fish stocks take place from late winter till summer, as long as the water temps and algae don’t hinder anything. Along with stocks of Trout come a lot of anglers. No entrance fee, however you will need and Adventure Pass to park in the National Forest. Supplies are available in Ojai. Due to the recent fires this summer of 2007, a lot of areas have been greatly affected. The fires burned over 250,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. Call ahead to the Ojai Ranger District to find out all new information. Santa Paula Creek Species: Rainbow Trout Santa Paula Creek parallels Highway 150 north all the way to Sulpher Springs. Up from there you run into the East Fork of the Santa Paula Creek. Nearby campgrounds are: Big Cone, Cross Camp, both are hike in locations and stay in Santa Paula Canyon. Last Chance Trail will follow the canyon all the way to Hines Peak. The stretch of water from Sulphur Springs on up the east fork is on a lot of private land. Don’t know too much about it, we didn’t have any problems getting to the water or any of the trails. We found access trails starting behind Thomas Aquinas College; I got a tip from a friend of mine about that trial. Your best bet is to go above the falls. This area is very popular and you will see a fair amount of swimmers. If no one is swimming or has been swimming, then try the pools above and below the falls. Trout stocks have stopped since 1998 or so because of the Endangered Species Act. It appears that Pacific Steelhead Trout run up the Santa Clara River then to Santa Paula Creek. So far no Pacific Steelhead and the stocks have not resumed. All the fish here are wild fish and most are less than 12”; we saw some very bright orange colors on a lot of the larger Trout we caught. Bright colors, full tails, large mouths, huge Parr markings and full of fight. Use caution in this rock and boulder filled area. There are Rattlesnakes and since you are near the Sespe Condor Range you have a very good chance of seeing both. You will need a very good pair of binoculars to see the Condors if any are near enough to see. Please call ahead to find out what areas may be closed or restricted. |